Dynamic exchange of information specifying available spectrum

ABSTRACT

A radio node that dynamically exchanges information specifying available spectrum in a shared-license-access band of frequencies is described. During operation, the radio node may provide a first grant request to a computer, where the first grant request includes a request to reserve a first portion of the shared-license-access band of frequencies for use by the radio node. Then, the radio node may receive from the computer a grant response. When the grant response indicates that the first grant request is denied, the radio node may provide to a second radio node a first notification that the request for a first portion of the shared-license-access band of frequencies was rejected. Similarly, the radio node may receive from the second radio node a second notification that a request for a second portion of the shared-license-access band of frequencies was rejected.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) to: U.S.Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/994,091, “Dynamic Exchange ofInformation Specifying Available Spectrum,” filed on Mar. 24, 2020, byPaul Petrus, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.

FIELD

The described embodiments relate to techniques for communicatinginformation among electronic devices. Notably, the described embodimentsrelate to techniques for dynamically exchanging information specifyingavailable spectrum in a band of frequencies.

BACKGROUND

While many electronic devices communicate with each other via largenetworks owned by a network operator, small-scale networks associatedwith entities (such as a company or an organization) are increasinglycommon. In principle, the small-scale network complements the serviceoffered by the network operator and can offer improved communicationperformance, such as in a particular venue or environment. In practice,the communication performance of small-scale networks (and largenetworks) is often constrained by resources, such as bandwidth in ashared communication channel.

In order to address these constraints, additional bands of frequenciesare being used by large networks and small-scale networks. For example,the shared-license-access band of frequencies near 3.5 GHz (notably, the150 MHz of bandwidth between 3.55 GHz and 3.7 GHz) is being used forgeneral-purpose communication. This shared-license-access band offrequencies is referred to as ‘Citizens Broadband Radio Service’ orCBRS.

In CBRS, a radio node (which is sometimes referred to as a ‘CitizensBand Service Device’ or CBSD) may provide a grant request to a SAS (acloud-based service that manages wireless communication in the CBRS) toreserve a portion of the spectrum or bandwidth in theshared-license-access band of frequencies, in a particular geographicregion, for its use. For example, a radio node may request a grant toreserve 5 MHz of spectrum from the SAS in a particular geographicregion. If the requested portion of the spectrum is available, the SASmay provide a grant response to the radio node with approval of a grantfor the requested portion of the spectrum. Then, the radio node mayprovide a heartbeat request to the SAS to request authorization totransmit in the granted portion of the spectrum. When the radio nodereceives a subsequent heartbeat response from the SAS, the radio node isauthorized to transmit in the granted portion of the spectrum.

However, CBRS falls within a band of frequencies between 3.55 and 3.7GHz that is infrequently used by higher-priority users, such as by theU.S. Government (and, in particular, the U.S. Navy) and/or for satelliteservices. When a higher-priority user is currently using a channel inthis shared-license-access band of frequencies, the SAS will reject agrant request from a radio node for a portion of the spectrum thatoverlaps or includes the channel. Consequently, the radio node will needto submit one or more additional grant requests, which will increase thetime needed to receive approval and authorization to transmit in theshared-license-access band of frequencies, and thus can adversely impactcommunication performance and the user experience.

SUMMARY

A radio node that dynamically provides information specifying availablespectrum in a shared-license-access band of frequencies is described.This radio node includes: a node or connector; and an interface circuitthat communicates with a second radio node and a computer. Duringoperation, the interface circuit may provide a first grant request tothe computer, where the first grant request includes a request toreserve a first portion of the shared-license-access band of frequenciesfor use by the radio node. Then, the interface circuit may receive fromthe computer a grant response. When the grant response indicates thatthe first grant request is denied, the interface circuit may provide tothe second radio node a first notification that the request for thefirst portion of the shared-license-access band of frequencies wasrejected.

Moreover, the interface circuit may perform a network listen fortransmissions associated with the second radio node. Then, the interfacecircuit may, based at least on the network listen, determine one or morefirst used portions of the shared-license-access band of frequenciesthat are used by the second radio node. Note that the first portion ofthe shared-license-access band of frequencies in the first grant requestmay be based at least in part on the determined one or more first usedportions of the shared-license-access band of frequencies.

Furthermore, the interface circuit may receive from the computerinformation specifying one or more second used portions of theshared-license-access band of frequencies associated with one or morepriority access licenses (PALs), and the first portion of theshared-license-access band of frequencies in the first grant request maybe based at least in part on the one or more second used portions of theshared-license-access band of frequencies.

Additionally, the interface circuit may receive from the second radionode a second notification that a request for a second portion of theshared-license-access band of frequencies was rejected. In someembodiments, the first portion of the shared-license-access band offrequencies in the first grant request may be based at least in part onthe second portion of the shared-license-access band of frequencies.

Alternatively or additionally, the interface circuit may provide asecond grant request to the computer, where the second grant requestincludes a request to reserve a third portion of theshared-license-access band of frequencies for use by the radio node, andthe third portion of the shared-license-access band of frequencies maybe based at least in part on: the first portion of theshared-license-access band of frequencies, the second portion of theshared-license-access band of frequencies, the one or more first usedportions of the shared-license-access band of frequencies, and/or theone or more second used portions of the shared-license-access band offrequencies.

In some embodiments, the shared-license-access band of frequencies mayinclude a CBRS.

Note that the radio node may include: an Evolved Node B (eNodeB), aUniversal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) NodeB and radionetwork controller (RNC), a New Radio (NR) gNB or gNodeB (whichcommunicates with a network with a cellular-telephone communicationprotocol that is other than Long Term Evolution), etc.

Another embodiment provides the computer.

Another embodiment provides a computer-readable storage medium withprogram instructions for use with the radio node. When executed by theradio node, the program instructions cause the radio node to perform atleast some of the aforementioned operations in one or more of thepreceding embodiments.

Another embodiment provides a method, which may be performed by theradio node. This method includes at least some of the aforementionedoperations in one or more of the preceding embodiments.

This Summary is provided for purposes of illustrating some exemplaryembodiments, so as to provide a basic understanding of some aspects ofthe subject matter described herein. Accordingly, it will be appreciatedthat the above-described features are examples and should not beconstrued to narrow the scope or spirit of the subject matter describedherein in any way. Other features, aspects, and advantages of thesubject matter described herein will become apparent from the followingDetailed Description, Figures, and Claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of communication amonga computer, radio nodes and electronic devices in a system in accordancewith an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a flow diagram illustrating an example of a method fordynamically providing information specifying available spectrum in ashared-license-access band of frequencies using a radio node in FIG. 1in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a drawing illustrating an example of communication among theelectronic devices in FIG. 1 in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a drawing illustrating an example of a technique fordynamically exchanging information specifying available spectrum in ashared-license-access band of frequencies in accordance with anembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating an example of an electronicdevice in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Note that like reference numerals refer to corresponding partsthroughout the drawings. Moreover, multiple instances of the same partare designated by a common prefix separated from an instance number by adash.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A radio node that dynamically exchanges information specifying availablespectrum in a shared-license-access band of frequencies (such as theCBRS) is described. During operation, the radio node may provide a firstgrant request to a computer (such as a SAS), where the first grantrequest includes a request to reserve a first portion of theshared-license-access band of frequencies (such as a channel) for use bythe radio node. Then, the radio node may receive from the computer agrant response. When the grant response indicates that the first grantrequest is denied, the radio node may provide to a second radio node afirst notification that the request for a first portion of theshared-license-access band of frequencies was rejected. Similarly, theradio node may receive from the second radio node a second notificationthat a request for a second portion of the shared-license-access band offrequencies was rejected.

By dynamically exchanging information specifying available spectrum inthe shared-license-access band of frequencies, these communicationtechniques may increase the situational awareness of the radio node andthe second radio node. Moreover, based on this increased situationalawareness, the likelihood or probability that a grant request from agiven radio node is approved by the computer in also increased. Notably,the shared or exchanged information may allow the given radio node to beaware of and to avoid portions of the shared-license-access band offrequencies that are being used a government user or a satelliteservice, which have higher priority. Consequently, the communicationtechniques may help ensure that the given radio node receive a grant andthe ability to transmit in the shared-license-access band of frequenciesusing its first grant request. In so doing, the communication techniquesmay reduce the time needed for the given radio node to initiateoperation in the shared-license-access band of frequencies.

Moreover, if the given radio node receives approval and authorization touse a channel in a portion of the shared-license-access band offrequencies, the computer may revoke the grant when a higher-priorityuser transmits in this portion of the shared-license-access band offrequencies. When this occurs, the given radio node may need to submitone or more additional grant requests to obtain the right to transmit inanother portion of the of the shared-license-access band of frequencies.Once again, this may result in increased time delays and/or disruptionof communication. By avoiding the grant requests for a channel in theportion of the shared-license-access band of frequencies when use by ahigher-priority user is possible, the communication techniques may avoidthis scenario, thereby reducing or eliminating the time delays andhelping to maintain the communication performance.

We now describe some embodiments of the communication techniques. Acellular-telephone network may include base stations (and associatedcell towers) that implement so-called ‘macrocells.’ These macrocells mayfacilitate communication with hundreds of users (such as hundreds ofcellular telephones) over distances of kilometers. In general, thepositioning of the cell towers (and the antennas) is carefully designedand optimized to maximize the performance of the cellular-telephonenetwork (such as the throughput, the capacity, the block error rate,etc.) and to reduce crosstalk or interference between the signalstransmitted by different cell towers and/or different macrocells. Smallcells are generally radio access nodes providing lower power thanmacrocells and therefore providing smaller coverage areas thanmacrocells. It is common to subcategorize ‘small cells’ even further byascribing relative general ranges. For example, a ‘microcell’ might havea range of less than 2 kilometers, a “picocell” less than 200 meters,and a ‘femtocell’ on the order of 10 meters. These descriptions are forgeneral relative comparison purposes and should not be limiting on thescope of the disclosed embodiments of the communication techniques.

However, there are often gaps in the coverage offered by macrocells.Consequently, some users operate local transceivers that provideshort-range communication in the cellular-telephone network. Theseso-called ‘femto cells’ provide short-range communication (e.g., up to10 m) for a few individuals.

In addition, larger organizations (such as those with 50-60 users, whichis a non-limiting numerical example) may operate local transceivers thatprovide communication in the cellular-telephone network over a range of100 m. This intermediate-range coverage in the cellular-telephonenetwork can be typically referred to as a ‘small cell’ as well.

One challenge for operators of cellular-telephone networks ismaintaining network performance and quality. For example, it may bedifficult to maintain the network performance and the quality of servicein high density, indoor or crowded environments. While the use of femtocells and/or small cells can mitigate this challenge, there are stilloften circumstances where the network performance and quality of acellular-telephone network is degraded. As noted previously, when thereis a higher-priority user, such as a government user or a satelliteservice, a grant request for a portion of the shared-license-access bandof frequencies that is being used by the government user or thesatellite service may be rejected, or an already-granted request may berevoked. This may force the radio node to submit one or more additionalgrant requests, which will increase the time needed for the radio nodeto receive eventual approval and, thus, the ability to transmit in theshared-license-access band of frequencies. These time delays may degradecommunication performance in a network that includes the radio node.

These challenges are addressed in the communication techniques describedbelow. Notably, radio nodes in a small-scale network may dynamicallyexchange information about rejected grant requests. This exchangedinformation may allow the radio nodes to know when a high-priority user(such as the U.S. Navy) is using a portion of the CBRS. As describedfurther below, in the communication techniques this information may beused to increase the likelihood or probability that a given grantrequest from a radio node is approved, and may reduce the likelihood orprobability that an already granted request is revoked.

In the discussion that follows, Long Term Evolution or LTE (from the 3rdGeneration Partnership Project of Sophia Antipolis, Valbonne, France) isused as an illustration of a data communication protocol in acellular-telephone network that is used during communication between oneor more radio nodes and an electronic device. Consequently, eNodeBs oreNBs are used as illustrative examples of the radio nodes. However, awide variety of communication techniques or protocols may be readilyused for the various embodiments. For example, an electronic device anda radio node may communicate frames or packets in accordance with awireless communication protocol, such as an Institute of Electrical andElectronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 standard (which is sometimesreferred to as ‘Wi-Fi,’ from the Wi-Fi Alliance of Austin, Tex.),Bluetooth (from the Bluetooth Special Interest Group of Kirkland,Wash.), a cellular-telephone or data network (such as using a thirdgeneration or 3G communication protocol, a fourth generation or 4Gcommunication protocol, e.g., LTE, LTE Advanced or LTE-A, a fifthgeneration or 5G communication protocol, or other present or futuredeveloped advanced cellular communication protocol) and/or another typeof wireless interface (such as communication protocol). Thus, the radionodes may include: an eNodeB, a UMTS NodeB and RNC, an NR gNB or gNodeB,etc.

Moreover, a radio node may communicate with other radio nodes and/orcomputers in a network using a wired communication protocol, such as anIEEE 802.3 standard (which is sometimes referred to as ‘Ethernet’)and/or another type of wired interface. In the discussion that follows,Ethernet is used as an illustrative example.

FIG. 1 presents a block diagram illustrating an example of communicationamong electronic devices according to some embodiments. Notably, radionodes 110 in small-scale network 108 (such as a small cell) cancommunicate LTE data frames or packets using LTE with an electronicdevice 112 (which is sometimes referred to as ‘user equipment’ or UE,such as a cellular telephone and, more generally, a portable electronicdevice). Again, while LTE is used as an example of a cellular protocol,the embodiments herein are not so limited. Moreover, radio nodes 110 mayalso communicate with each other via wireless or wired communication(such as Ethernet) in network 114 and/or computer 124 (such as a SAS) orcomputer 126 (such as a controller) via wireless or wired communication(such as Ethernet) in network 116. Note that networks 114 and 116 may bethe same or different networks. For example, networks 114 and/or 116 mayan intra-net or the Internet.

As described further below with reference to FIGS. 2-4, one or more ofradio nodes 110 may perform one or more communication techniques bycommunicating with computer 124 via networks 114 and 116. Using radionode 110-1 as an example, this radio node may provide a grant request tocomputer 124 to reserve a portion of a spectrum or bandwidth (such as aportion of the spectrum in a shared-license-access band of frequenciesor another band of frequencies) for its use. For example, radio node110-1 may request a grant to reserve 5, 10, 20, 40, 80, 100 or 150 MHzof spectrum in CBRS from computer 124. In response, computer 124 mayprovide a grant response to radio node 110-1 with approval of a grantfor the requested portion of the spectrum.

However, as discussed previously, when a higher-priority user is presentand using a channel in a portion of the shared-license-access band offrequencies (such as a first 100 MHz in the CBRS), the grant requestfrom radio node 110-1 will be rejected by computer 124. When thishappens, radio node 110-1 may need to submit one or more additionalgrant requests for one or more different portions of theshared-license-access band of frequencies in order to eventually receivean allocation of a portion of the shared-license-access band offrequencies for use by radio node 110-1.

In order to prevent these problems, in the communication techniquesradio node 110-1 may dynamically exchange information specifyingavailable spectrum in a shared-license-access band of frequencies (suchas the CBRS) with one or more of the remaining radio nodes 110. Notably,radio node 110-1 may provide, to one or more of the remaining radionodes 110, a notification that a request for a first portion of theshared-license-access band of frequencies was rejected (such as achannel in the first 100 MHz of the CBRS). Alternatively oradditionally, radio node 110-1 may receive, from at least one of theremaining radio nodes 110, a notification that a request for a secondportion of the shared-license-access band of frequencies was rejected.

Moreover, radio node 110-1 may perform a network listen fortransmissions from one or more of the remaining radio nodes 110. Then,based at least in part on the network listen, radio node 110-1 maydetermine one or more first used portions of the shared-license-accessband of frequencies that are used by the one or more of the remainingradio nodes 110. Alternatively or additionally, radio node 110-1 mayreceive, from computer 124, information specifying one or more secondused portions of the shared-license-access band of frequenciesassociated with one or more PALs.

Furthermore, radio node 110-1 may use this situational awareness toimprove the likelihood or probability that a subsequent grant request isapproved. Notably, the information exchanged with at least one of theremaining radio nodes 110 may alert radio node 110-1 when there is anincumbent user (such as the U.S. Navy or a satellite provider) in thefirst portion of the shared-license-access band of frequencies, Whenthis is the case, the subsequent grant request from radio node 110-1 maybe for a channel in a third portion of the shared-license-access band offrequencies (such as the last 50 MHz in the CBRS). Alternatively oradditionally, the grant request may avoid the used portions of theshared-license-access band of frequencies associated with the remainingradio nodes 110 and/or one or more PALs.

At least some of the aforementioned operations in the communicationtechniques may be repeated so that radio node 110-1 can dynamicallyadapt to changes in small-scale network 108. For example, thecommunication techniques may be performed once (such as when radio node110-1 is turned on), periodically, or as needed.

In this way, the communication techniques may dynamically ensure that agrant request from radio node 110-1 avoids, when needed, a portion ofthe shared-license-access band of frequencies that is selectively usedby a government user and/or a satellite service. This may help increasethe likelihood or probability that the grant request is approved bycomputer 124 and/or not revoked later in favor of a higher priorityuser, and therefore may reduce or eliminate the need for one or moreadditional grant requests. Consequently, the communication techniquesmay reduce or eliminate delays and may improve communicationperformance.

In general, the wireless communication in FIG. 1 may be characterized bya variety of performance metrics, such as: a data rate for successfulcommunication (which is sometimes referred to as ‘throughput’), an errorrate (such as a retry or resend rate), a mean-square error of equalizedsignals relative to an equalization target, intersymbol interference,multipath interference, a signal-to-noise ratio, a width of an eyepattern, a ratio of number of bytes successfully communicated during atime interval (such as 1-10 s) to an estimated maximum number of bytesthat can be communicated in the time interval (the latter of which issometimes referred to as the ‘capacity’ of a communication channel orlink), and/or a ratio of an actual data rate to an estimated data rate(which is sometimes referred to as ‘utilization’).

During the communication in FIG. 1, radio nodes 110 and electronicdevice 112 may wirelessly communicate while: transmitting accessrequests and receiving access responses on wireless channels, detectingone another by scanning wireless channels, establishing connections (forexample, by transmitting connection requests and receiving connectionresponses), and/or transmitting and receiving frames that includepackets (which may include information as payloads).

As described further below with reference to FIG. 5, radio nodes 110 andelectronic device 112 may include subsystems, such as a networkingsubsystem, a memory subsystem and a processor subsystem. In addition,radio nodes 110 and electronic device 112 may include radios 118 in thenetworking subsystems. More generally, radio nodes 110 and electronicdevice 112 can include (or can be included within) any electronicdevices with the networking subsystems that enable radio nodes 110 andelectronic device 112 to wirelessly communicate with each other. Thiswireless communication can comprise transmitting access on wirelesschannels to enable electronic devices to make initial contact with ordetect each other, followed by exchanging subsequent data/managementframes (such as connection requests and responses) to establish aconnection, configure security options, transmit and receive frames orpackets via the connection, etc.

Moreover, as can be seen in FIG. 1, wireless signals 120 (represented bya jagged line) are transmitted by radios 118 in radio nodes 110 andelectronic device 112. For example, radio 118-1 in radio node 110-1 maytransmit information (such as frames or packets) using wireless signals120. These wireless signals are received by radios 118 in one or moreother electronic devices (such as radio 118-2 in electronic device 112).This may allow radio node 110-1 to communicate information to otherradio nodes 110 and/or electronic device 112. Note that wireless signals120 may convey LTE frames or packets.

In the described embodiments, processing a frame that includes packetsin radio nodes 110 and electronic device 112 may include: receiving thewireless signals with the frame; decoding/extracting the frame from thereceived wireless signals to acquire the frame; and processing the frameto determine information contained in the payload of the frame (such asthe packet).

Although we describe the network environment shown in FIG. 1 as anexample, in alternative embodiments, different numbers or types ofelectronic devices may be present. For example, some embodimentscomprise more or fewer electronic devices. As another example, inanother embodiment, different electronic devices are transmitting and/orreceiving frames that include packets.

We now describe embodiments of the method. FIG. 2 presents a flowdiagram illustrating an example of a method 200 for dynamicallyproviding information specifying available spectrum in ashared-license-access band of frequencies, which may be performed by aradio node (such as one of radio nodes 110 in FIG. 1). During operation,the radio node may provide a first grant request (operation 210) to thecomputer, where the first grant request includes a request to reserve afirst portion of a shared-license-access band of frequencies for use bythe radio node. Then, the radio node may receive from the computer agrant response (operation 212). When the grant response indicates thatthe first grant request is denied (operation 214), the radio node mayprovide to the second radio node a first notification (operation 216)that the request for a first portion of the shared-license-access bandof frequencies was rejected. Otherwise (operation 214), the radio nodemay not take further action (operation 218).

In some embodiments, the radio node may optionally perform one or moreadditional operations (operation 220). For example, the radio node mayperform a network listen for transmissions associated with the secondradio node. Then, the radio node may, based at least on the networklisten, determine one or more first used portions of theshared-license-access band of frequencies that are used by the secondradio node. Note that the first portion of the shared-license-accessband of frequencies in the first grant request may be based at least inpart on the determined one or more first used portions of theshared-license-access band of frequencies.

Moreover, the radio node may receive from the computer informationspecifying one or more second used portions of the shared-license-accessband of frequencies associated with one or more PALs, and the firstportion of the shared-license-access band of frequencies in the firstgrant request may be based at least in part on the one or more secondused portions of the shared-license-access band of frequencies.

Furthermore, the radio node may receive from the second radio node asecond notification that a request for a second portion of theshared-license-access band of frequencies was rejected. In someembodiments, the first portion of the shared-license-access band offrequencies in the first grant request may be based at least in part onthe second portion of the shared-license-access band of frequencies.

Alternatively or additionally, the radio node may provide a second grantrequest to the computer, where the second grant request includes arequest to reserve a third portion of the shared-license-access band offrequencies for use by the radio node, and the third portion of theshared-license-access band of frequencies may be based at least in parton: the first portion of the shared-license-access band of frequencies,the second portion of the shared-license-access band of frequencies, theone or more first used portions of the shared-license-access band offrequencies, and/or the one or more second used portions of theshared-license-access band of frequencies.

In some embodiments, the shared-license-access band of frequencies mayinclude a CBRS.

Note that the radio node may include: an eNodeB, a UMTS NodeB and RNC, aNew Radio (NR) gNB or gNodeB, etc.

In some embodiments of method 200, there may be additional or feweroperations. Furthermore, the order of the operations may be changed,and/or two or more operations may be combined into a single operation.

Embodiments of the communication techniques are further illustrated inFIG. 3, which presents a drawing illustrating an example ofcommunication among computer 124 and radio nodes 110-1, 110-2 and 110-3.In FIG. 3, an interface circuit (IC) 310 in radio node 110-1 may providea grant request 312 to computer 124 to reserve a first portion of ashared-license-access band of frequencies for use by radio node 110-1.After receiving grant request 312, computer 124 may provide a grantresponse 314 to radio node 110-1. This grant response may deny grantrequest 312.

Moreover, after receiving grant response 314, interface circuit 312 mayprovide notifications 316 to radio nodes 110-2 and 110-3 that grantrequest 312 for the first portion of the shared-license-access band offrequencies was rejected. Similarly, at least one of radio nodes 110-2and 110-3 (such as radio node 110-2) may provide notifications 322 toradio nodes 110-1 and 110-3 that grant request 318 for a second portionof the shared-license-access band of frequencies was rejected bycomputer 124 in grant response 320.

Using information about the first portion and/or the second portion,interface circuit 310 may determine a portion 328 of theshared-license-access band of frequencies. Next, interface circuit 310may provide a grant request 330 to computer 124 to reserve portion 328of the shared-license-access band of frequencies for use by radio node110-1. After receiving grant request 330, computer 124 may provide agrant response 332 to radio node 110-1. This grant response may approvegrant request 330.

In some embodiments, interface circuit 310 may perform a network listen324 or scan for wireless transmissions associated with radio node 110-2or 110-3. The results of network listen 324 may be used to determineportions of the shared-license-access band of frequencies that are usedby radio nodes 110-2 and 110-3. Furthermore, computer 124 may provideinformation 326 to radio nodes 110 specifying any portions of theshared-license-access band of frequencies that are used by PALs. Inthese embodiments, interface circuit 310 may also determine portion 328of the shared-license-access band of frequencies using the results ofnetwork listen 324 and/or information 326.

While FIG. 3 illustrates communication between components usingunidirectional or bidirectional communication with lines having singlearrows or double arrows, in general the communication in a givenoperation in this figure may involve unidirectional or bidirectionalcommunication.

In some embodiments of the communication techniques, a radio node usesdynamically exchanged information about one or more rejected grantrequests to increase the probability that subsequent grant requests areapproved. For example, when a grant request from the radio node isrejected by a SAS, the radio node may provide a notification to one ormore remaining radio nodes in a small-scale network, such as a smallcell. This may alert the radio nodes that there one or more higherpriority users, so that a given radio node may request a grantallocation for a different portion of a shared-access-license band offrequencies than those used by the higher priority user(s).

This is illustrated in FIG. 4, which presents a drawing illustrating anexample of a technique for dynamically exchanging information aboutavailable spectrum in the CBRS. Notably, when a Citizens Broadband RadioService Device (CBSD) 410-1 receives a rejection in a grant response 416to a grant request 414 to a SAS 412, CBSD 410-1 may providenotifications 418 the remaining CBSDs 410. For example, notifications418 may be unicast or broadcast.

Similarly, the remaining CBSDs 410 may provide notifications to theremaining CBSDs 410 when any of their grant requests are rejected. Forexample, when CBSD 410-2 receives a rejection in a grant response 422 toa grant request 420 to SAS 412, CBSD 410-2 may provide notifications 424the remaining CBSDs 410.

Using this information about rejected requests for portions of the CBRS,CBSD 410-1 may determine if there is a higher priority user. When thereis (or likely is) a higher priority user, subsequent grant requests fromCBSD 410-1 to SAS 412 may be for a portion of the last 50 MHz in theCBRS (i.e., between 3.65 and 3.7 GHz). Note that CBSD 410-1 may continueto avoid requesting a portion of the first 100 MHz of the CBRS for atime interval, such as 24 hrs. Thus, CBSD 410-1 may selectively avoidrequesting any of the first 100 MHz in the CBRS. Alternatively, whenthere is not a higher priority user, CBSD 410-1 may provide a grantrequest any portion of the 150 MHz in the CBRS to SAS 412. Consequently,the communication techniques may allow CBSDs 410 to make intelligentgrant requests that are more likely to be approved by SAS 412.

In some embodiments of the communication techniques, radio nodesdynamically exchange information specifying available CBRSchannels/spectrum. While a SAS can be queried about availablechannels/spectrum, this may only identify PALs. Incumbent users (such asthe U.S. Navy or satellite users) may not be identified. In thecommunication techniques, radio nodes may use network listen todetermine available channels/spectrum. This information may be exchangedamong the radio nodes in a network and/or is provided to a controllerfor the radio nodes/network, which then distributes the information tothe radio nodes in the network. The information provides dynamicsituation awareness about available channels/spectrum, which a givenradio node can use to increase the likelihood/probability that a grantrequest for a portion of the CBRS will be approved by the SAS.

We now describe embodiments of an electronic device, which may performat least some of the operations in the communication techniques. FIG. 5presents a block diagram illustrating an example of an electronic device500 in accordance with some embodiments, such as one of radio nodes 110,electronic device 112 computer 124. This electronic device includesprocessing subsystem 510, memory subsystem 512, and networking subsystem514. Processing subsystem 510 includes one or more devices configured toperform computational operations. For example, processing subsystem 510can include one or more microprocessors, graphics processing units(GPUs), ASICs, microcontrollers, programmable-logic devices, and/or oneor more digital signal processors (DSPs).

Memory subsystem 512 includes one or more devices for storing dataand/or instructions for processing subsystem 510 and networkingsubsystem 514. For example, memory subsystem 512 can include dynamicrandom access memory (DRAM), static random access memory (SRAM), and/orother types of memory. In some embodiments, instructions for processingsubsystem 510 in memory subsystem 512 include: one or more programmodules or sets of instructions (such as program instructions 522 oroperating system 524), which may be executed by processing subsystem510. Note that the one or more computer programs or program modules mayconstitute a computer-program mechanism. Moreover, instructions in thevarious modules in memory subsystem 512 may be implemented in: ahigh-level procedural language, an object-oriented programming language,and/or in an assembly or machine language. Furthermore, the programminglanguage may be compiled or interpreted, e.g., configurable orconfigured (which may be used interchangeably in this discussion), to beexecuted by processing subsystem 510.

In addition, memory subsystem 512 can include mechanisms for controllingaccess to the memory. In some embodiments, memory subsystem 512 includesa memory hierarchy that comprises one or more caches coupled to a memoryin electronic device 500. In some of these embodiments, one or more ofthe caches is located in processing subsystem 510.

In some embodiments, memory subsystem 512 is coupled to one or morehigh-capacity mass-storage devices (not shown). For example, memorysubsystem 512 can be coupled to a magnetic or optical drive, asolid-state drive, or another type of mass-storage device. In theseembodiments, memory subsystem 512 can be used by electronic device 500as fast-access storage for often-used data, while the mass-storagedevice is used to store less frequently used data.

Networking subsystem 514 includes one or more devices configured tocouple to and communicate on a wired and/or wireless network (i.e., toperform network operations), including: control logic 516, an interfacecircuit 518 and one or more antennas 520 (or antenna elements). (WhileFIG. 5 includes one or more antennas 520, in some embodiments electronicdevice 500 includes one or more nodes, such as antenna nodes 508, e.g.,a pad, which can be coupled to the one or more antennas 520, or nodes506, which can be coupled to a wired or optical connection or link.Thus, electronic device 500 may or may not include the one or moreantennas 520. Note that the one or more nodes 506 and/or antenna nodes508 may constitute input(s) to and/or output(s) from electronic device500.) For example, networking subsystem 514 can include a Bluetooth™networking system, a cellular networking system (e.g., a 3G/4G/5Gnetwork such as UMTS, LTE, etc.), a universal serial bus (USB)networking system, a networking system based on the standards describedin IEEE 802.11 (e.g., a Wi-Fi® networking system), an Ethernetnetworking system, and/or another networking system.

Note that a transmit or receive antenna pattern (or antenna radiationpattern) of electronic device 500 may be adapted or changed usingpattern shapers (such as reflectors) in one or more antennas 520 (orantenna elements), which can be independently and selectivelyelectrically coupled to ground to steer the transmit antenna pattern indifferent directions. Thus, if one or more antennas 520 include Nantenna pattern shapers, the one or more antennas may have 2^(N)different antenna pattern configurations. More generally, a givenantenna pattern may include amplitudes and/or phases of signals thatspecify a direction of the main or primary lobe of the given antennapattern, as well as so-called ‘exclusion regions’ or ‘exclusion zones’(which are sometimes referred to as ‘notches’ or ‘nulls’). Note that anexclusion zone of the given antenna pattern includes a low-intensityregion of the given antenna pattern. While the intensity is notnecessarily zero in the exclusion zone, it may be below a threshold,such as 3 dB or lower than the peak gain of the given antenna pattern.Thus, the given antenna pattern may include a local maximum (e.g., aprimary beam) that directs gain in the direction of electronic device500 that is of interest, and one or more local minima that reduce gainin the direction of other electronic devices that are not of interest.In this way, the given antenna pattern may be selected so thatcommunication that is undesirable (such as with the other electronicdevices) is avoided to reduce or eliminate adverse effects, such asinterference or crosstalk.

Networking subsystem 514 includes processors, controllers,radios/antennas, sockets/plugs, and/or other devices used for couplingto, communicating on, and handling data and events for each supportednetworking system. Note that mechanisms used for coupling to,communicating on, and handling data and events on the network for eachnetwork system are sometimes collectively referred to as a ‘networkinterface’ for the network system. Moreover, in some embodiments a‘network’ or a ‘connection’ between the electronic devices does not yetexist. Therefore, electronic device 500 may use the mechanisms innetworking subsystem 514 for performing simple wireless communicationbetween the electronic devices, e.g., transmitting advertising or beaconframes and/or scanning for advertising frames transmitted by otherelectronic devices as described previously.

Within electronic device 500, processing subsystem 510, memory subsystem512, and networking subsystem 514 are coupled together using bus 528.Bus 528 may include an electrical, optical, and/or electro-opticalconnection that the subsystems can use to communicate commands and dataamong one another. Although only one bus 528 is shown for clarity,different embodiments can include a different number or configuration ofelectrical, optical, and/or electro-optical connections among thesubsystems.

In some embodiments, electronic device 500 includes a display subsystem526 for displaying information on a display, which may include a displaydriver and the display, such as a liquid-crystal display, a multi-touchtouchscreen, etc.

Electronic device 500 can be (or can be included in) any electronicdevice with at least one network interface. For example, electronicdevice 500 can be (or can be included in): a desktop computer, a laptopcomputer, a subnotebook/netbook, a server, a tablet computer, asmartphone, a cellular telephone, a smartwatch, a consumer-electronicdevice, a portable computing device, an access point, a transceiver, arouter, a switch, communication equipment, an eNodeB, a controller, testequipment, and/or another electronic device.

Although specific components are used to describe electronic device 500,in alternative embodiments, different components and/or subsystems maybe present in electronic device 500. For example, electronic device 500may include one or more additional processing subsystems, memorysubsystems, networking subsystems, and/or display subsystems.Additionally, one or more of the subsystems may not be present inelectronic device 500. Moreover, in some embodiments, electronic device500 may include one or more additional subsystems that are not shown inFIG. 5. Also, although separate subsystems are shown in FIG. 5, in someembodiments some or all of a given subsystem or component can beintegrated into one or more of the other subsystems or component(s) inelectronic device 500. For example, in some embodiments programinstructions 522 is included in operating system 524 and/or controllogic 516 is included in interface circuit 518.

Moreover, the circuits and components in electronic device 500 may beimplemented using any combination of analog and/or digital circuitry,including: bipolar, PMOS and/or NMOS gates or transistors. Furthermore,signals in these embodiments may include digital signals that haveapproximately discrete values and/or analog signals that have continuousvalues. Additionally, components and circuits may be single-ended ordifferential, and power supplies may be unipolar or bipolar.

An integrated circuit (which is sometimes referred to as a‘communication circuit’) may implement some or all of the functionalityof networking subsystem 514. The integrated circuit may include hardwareand/or software mechanisms that are used for transmitting wirelesssignals from electronic device 500 and receiving signals at electronicdevice 500 from other electronic devices. Aside from the mechanismsherein described, radios are generally known in the art and hence arenot described in detail. In general, networking subsystem 514 and/or theintegrated circuit can include any number of radios. Note that theradios in multiple-radio embodiments function in a similar way to thedescribed single-radio embodiments.

In some embodiments, networking subsystem 514 and/or the integratedcircuit include a configuration mechanism (such as one or more hardwareand/or software mechanisms) that configures the radio(s) to transmitand/or receive on a given communication channel (e.g., a given carrierfrequency). For example, in some embodiments, the configurationmechanism can be used to switch the radio from monitoring and/ortransmitting on a given communication channel to monitoring and/ortransmitting on a different communication channel. (Note that‘monitoring’ as used herein comprises receiving signals from otherelectronic devices and possibly performing one or more processingoperations on the received signals)

In some embodiments, an output of a process for designing the integratedcircuit, or a portion of the integrated circuit, which includes one ormore of the circuits described herein may be a computer-readable mediumsuch as, for example, a magnetic tape or an optical or magnetic disk.The computer-readable medium may be encoded with data structures orother information describing circuitry that may be physicallyinstantiated as the integrated circuit or the portion of the integratedcircuit. Although various formats may be used for such encoding, thesedata structures are commonly written in: Caltech Intermediate Format(CIF), Calma GDS II Stream Format (GDSII) or Electronic DesignInterchange Format (EDIF). Those of skill in the art of integratedcircuit design can develop such data structures from schematics of thetype detailed above and the corresponding descriptions and encode thedata structures on the computer-readable medium. Those of skill in theart of integrated circuit fabrication can use such encoded data tofabricate integrated circuits that include one or more of the circuitsdescribed herein.

While the preceding discussion used an Ethernet and an LTE communicationprotocol as an illustrative example, in other embodiments a wide varietyof communication protocols and, more generally, wireless communicationtechniques may be used. For example, instead of Ethernet, acommunication protocol that is compatible with the Internet Protocol isused. Thus, the communication techniques may be used in a variety ofnetwork interfaces. Furthermore, while some of the operations in thepreceding embodiments were implemented in hardware or software, ingeneral the operations in the preceding embodiments can be implementedin a wide variety of configurations and architectures. Therefore, someor all of the operations in the preceding embodiments may be performedin hardware, in software or both. For example, at least some of theoperations in the communication techniques may be implemented usingprogram instructions 522, operating system 524 (such as a driver forinterface circuit 518) or in firmware in interface circuit 518. Thus,the communication techniques may be implemented at runtime of programinstructions 522. Alternatively or additionally, at least some of theoperations in the communication techniques may be implemented in aphysical layer, such as hardware in interface circuit 518.

While examples of numerical values are provided in the precedingdiscussion, in other embodiments different numerical values are used.Consequently, the numerical values provided are not intended to belimiting.

Moreover, while the preceding embodiments illustrated the use of thecommunication techniques with CBRS (e.g., a frequency band near 3.5GHz), in other embodiments of the communication techniques differentwireless signals and/or different frequency band(s) may be used. Forexample, the wireless signals may be communicated in one or more bandsof frequencies, including: 900 MHz, 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, 60 GHz, and/or aband of frequencies used by LTE or another cellular-telephonecommunication protocol.

Furthermore, while the preceding embodiments illustrated the use ofdynamic exchange of the information among the radio nodes (i.e., adistributed approach), in other embodiments a controller is used (i.e.,a centralized approach). Notably, the radio nodes may provide theinformation about available spectra to the controller, which thendisseminates the information to the radio nodes.

In the preceding description, we refer to ‘some embodiments.’ Note that‘some embodiments’ describes a subset of all of the possibleembodiments, but does not always specify the same subset of embodiments.

The foregoing description is intended to enable any person skilled inthe art to make and use the disclosure, and is provided in the contextof a particular application and its requirements. Moreover, theforegoing descriptions of embodiments of the present disclosure havebeen presented for purposes of illustration and description only. Theyare not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present disclosure tothe forms disclosed. Accordingly, many modifications and variations willbe apparent to practitioners skilled in the art, and the generalprinciples defined herein may be applied to other embodiments andapplications without departing from the spirit and scope of the presentdisclosure. Additionally, the discussion of the preceding embodiments isnot intended to limit the present disclosure. Thus, the presentdisclosure is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown, butis to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles andfeatures disclosed herein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A radio node, comprising: a node or connectorconfigured to communicatively couple to a network; an interface circuit,communicatively coupled to the node or connector, configured tocommunicate with a computer and a second radio node, wherein theinterface circuit is configured to: provide a first grant requestaddressed to the computer, wherein the first grant request comprises arequest to reserve a first portion of a shared-license-access band offrequencies for use by the radio node; receive a grant responseassociated with the computer; and when the grant response indicates thatthe first grant request is denied, provide, addressed to the secondradio node, a first notification that the request for the first portionof the shared-license-access band of frequencies was rejected.
 2. Theradio node of claim 1, wherein the interface circuit is configured to:perform a network listen for transmissions associated with the secondradio node; and determine, based at least on the network listen, one ormore first used portions of the shared-license-access band offrequencies that are used by the second radio node; and wherein thefirst portion of the shared-license-access band of frequencies in thefirst grant request is based at least in part on the determined one ormore first used portions of the shared-license-access band offrequencies.
 3. The radio node of claim 2, wherein the interface circuitis configured to receive, associated with the computer, informationspecifying one or more second used portions of the shared-license-accessband of frequencies that are associated with one or more priority accesslicenses (PALs); and wherein the first portion of theshared-license-access band of frequencies in the first grant request isbased at least in part on the one or more second used portions of theshared-license-access band of frequencies.
 4. The radio node of claim 3,wherein the interface circuit is configured to receive, associated withthe second radio node, a second notification that a request for a secondportion of the shared-license-access band of frequencies was rejected;and wherein the first portion of the shared-license-access band offrequencies in the first grant request is based at least in part on thesecond portion of the shared-license-access band of frequencies.
 5. Theradio node of claim 4, wherein the interface circuit is configured toprovide a second grant request addressed to the computer; wherein thesecond grant request comprises a request to reserve a third portion ofthe shared-license-access band of frequencies for use by the radio node;and wherein the third portion of the shared-license-access band offrequencies is based at least in part on one or more of: the firstportion of the shared-license-access band of frequencies, the secondportion of the shared-license-access band of frequencies, the one ormore first used portions of the shared-license-access band offrequencies, or the one or more second used portions of theshared-license-access band of frequencies.
 6. The radio node of claim 1,wherein the shared-license-access band of frequencies comprises aCitizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS).
 7. The radio node of claim 1,wherein wherein the radio node comprises: an Evolved Node B (eNodeB), aUniversal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) NodeB and radionetwork controller (RNC), or a New Radio (NR) gNB or gNodeB.
 8. Anon-transitory computer-readable storage medium for use in conjunctionwith a radio node, the computer-readable storage medium storing programinstructions that, when executed by the radio node, cause the radio nodeto perform operations comprising: providing a first grant requestaddressed to a computer, wherein the first grant request comprises arequest to reserve a first portion of a shared-license-access band offrequencies for use by the radio node; receiving a grant responseassociated with the computer; and when the grant response indicates thatthe first grant request is denied, providing, addressed to a secondradio node, a first notification that the request for the first portionof the shared-license-access band of frequencies was rejected.
 9. Thenon-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein theoperations comprise: performing a network listen for transmissionsassociated with the second radio node; and determining, based at leaston the network listen, one or more first used portions of theshared-license-access band of frequencies that are used by the secondradio node; and wherein the first portion of the shared-license-accessband of frequencies in the first grant request is based at least in parton the determined one or more first used portions of theshared-license-access band of frequencies.
 10. The non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the operationscomprise receiving, associated with the computer, information specifyingone or more second used portions of the shared-license-access band offrequencies that are associated with one or more priority accesslicenses (PALs); and wherein the first portion of theshared-license-access band of frequencies in the first grant request isbased at least in part on the one or more second used portions of theshared-license-access band of frequencies.
 11. The non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein the operationscomprise receiving, associated with the second radio node, a secondnotification that a request for a second portion of theshared-license-access band of frequencies was rejected; and wherein thefirst portion of the shared-license-access band of frequencies in thefirst grant request is based at least in part on the second portion ofthe shared-license-access band of frequencies.
 12. The non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the operationscomprise providing a second grant request addressed to the computer;wherein the second grant request comprises a request to reserve a thirdportion of the shared-license-access band of frequencies for use by theradio node; and wherein the third portion of the shared-license-accessband of frequencies is based at least in part on one or more of: thefirst portion of the shared-license-access band of frequencies, thesecond portion of the shared-license-access band of frequencies, the oneor more first used portions of the shared-license-access band offrequencies, or the one or more second used portions of theshared-license-access band of frequencies.
 13. The non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein theshared-license-access band of frequencies comprises a Citizens BroadbandRadio Service (CBRS).
 14. The non-transitory computer-readable storagemedium of claim 8, wherein wherein the radio node comprises: an EvolvedNode B (eNodeB), a Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS)NodeB and radio network controller (RNC), or a New Radio (NR) gNB orgNodeB.
 15. A method for dynamically providing information specifyingavailable spectrum in a shared-license-access band of frequencies,comprising: by a radio node: providing a first grant request addressedto a computer, wherein the first grant request comprises a request toreserve a first portion of the shared-license-access band of frequenciesfor use by the radio node; receiving a grant response associated withthe computer; and when the grant response indicates that the first grantrequest is denied, providing, addressed to a second radio node, a firstnotification that the request for the first portion of theshared-license-access band of frequencies was rejected.
 16. The methodof claim 15, wherein the method comprises: performing a network listenfor transmissions associated with the second radio node; anddetermining, based at least on the network listen, one or more firstused portions of the shared-license-access band of frequencies that areused by the second radio node; and wherein the first portion of theshared-license-access band of frequencies in the first grant request isbased at least in part on the determined one or more first used portionsof the shared-license-access band of frequencies.
 17. The method ofclaim 16, wherein the method comprises receiving, associated with thecomputer, information specifying one or more second used portions of theshared-license-access band of frequencies that are associated with oneor more priority access licenses (PALs); and wherein the first portionof the shared-license-access band of frequencies in the first grantrequest is based at least in part on the one or more second usedportions of the shared-license-access band of frequencies.
 18. Themethod of claim 17, wherein the method comprises receiving, associatedwith the second radio node, a second notification that a request for asecond portion of the shared-license-access band of frequencies wasrejected; and wherein the first portion of the shared-license-accessband of frequencies in the first grant request is based at least in parton the second portion of the shared-license-access band of frequencies.19. The method of claim 18, wherein the method comprises providing asecond grant request addressed to the computer; wherein the second grantrequest comprises a request to reserve a third portion of theshared-license-access band of frequencies for use by the radio node; andwherein the third portion of the shared-license-access band offrequencies is based at least in part on one or more of: the firstportion of the shared-license-access band of frequencies, the secondportion of the shared-license-access band of frequencies, the one ormore first used portions of the shared-license-access band offrequencies, or the one or more second used portions of theshared-license-access band of frequencies.
 20. The method of claim 15,wherein the shared-license-access band of frequencies comprises aCitizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS).